More Than 5,000 Syrian Refugees Given New Home In UK

The number of Syrian refugees brought to the UK under the Government's resettlement scheme has passed 5,000.

Home Office statistics show 1,292 people arrived through the initiative in the final three months of last year, taking the total since it was expanded to 5,454.

In 2015, ministers committed to take in 20,000 Syrians driven from the war-torn country by 2020 following a public outcry over the fate of those attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.

The latest figures show approximately half of those given sanctuary under the programme are children.

There has been an increase in the number of councils participating in the scheme, with refugees now being housed by more than 200 local authorities across the UK.

Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said:

"The humanitarian crisis in Syria is unprecedented, which is why this Government is undertaking of the largest resettlement schemes in the UK's history."

Last year, a Commons committee report warned of a "two-tier system" in relation to the programme, which is voluntary for town halls, after figures showed some had taken in dozens while others had received none.

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